MLB Player News

Serven isn't in the lineup Saturday against Minnesota.

Serven has lost out on playing time behind the dish recently, and he'll be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game. Elias Diaz -- who appears to have carved out a role as the Rockies' primary catcher -- is starting behind the dish and batting eighth Saturday.

Gomes is serving as the DH and batting seventh in Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

Gomes will be making his fourth straight start, as the Cubs are using both him and Willson Contreras together regularly. Despite the playing time, Gomes hasn't been a great fantasy option with a .606 OPS and just three home runs and eight RBI across 35 games.

McCann (wrist) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday but isn't starting against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McCann recently completed a rehab assignment at Double-A Binghamton, where he hit .286 with two doubles, three runs and an RBI over five games. While Tomas Nido is starting behind the dish Friday, McCann should serve as the Mets' primary catcher now that he's fully healthy.

D'Arnaud isn't starting Friday against the Dodgers.

D'Arnaud will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a strikeout in Thursday's win over San Francisco. William Contreras is starting behind the plate and batting sixth.

Serven isn't starting Friday's game against the Twins, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Serven and Elias Diaz have split time behind the dish over the last few weeks, but Serven will retreat to the bench for a third consecutive game Friday. Diaz is starting at catcher and batting ninth.

Smith went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Thursday in a 10-5 victory versus Cincinnati.

Smith hit one of five Dodgers homers in the contest, going deep to left field in the seventh inning. The long ball was the 10th of the season for Smith, which is tied for third among big-league catchers. Smith is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, during which he is slashing .409/.417/.727 with two homers, four RBI and three runs.

Heineman went 2-for-4 with an RBI against the Cubs on Thursday.

Heineman started for the second time in Pittsburgh's last five games and appears to be in a timeshare with Michael Perez. Heineman collected multiple hits in a start for the third time this season, highlighted by an RBI single in the sixth frame. Despite the decent performance, he's hitting a dreadful .184/.244/.237 across 84 plate appearances on the season, although that's still a small step up from Perez's .127/.184/.254 line.

Realmuto went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Padres.

Realmuto hit the second of the Phillies two sixth-inning blasts off Padres starter Joe Musgrove. The homer was Realmuto's first extra-base hit since June 12 and his first long ball since May 26 as he's struggled to generate much power lately. The catcher is slashing .240/.318/.358 with four homers, 27 RBI, 33 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 11 doubles and two triples through 258 plate appearances.

McCann (wrist) is traveling to Miami and is expected to be activated from the injured list Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McCann has been on a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton since June 16 and collected six hits in 21 at-bats. He should return to his role as the Mets' primary catcher, though he was hitting just .196/.266/.286 across 64 plate appearances prior to going down.

Smith went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in Wednesday's 8-4 win against Cincinnati.

Smith started behind the plate and slotted into the third spot in the batting order. He produced the Dodgers' first run with a single in the third inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Turner in the fifth. Smith has tallied multiple hits in each of his past three contests, going 7-for-12 with a home run and three RBI over that span. He's back in the lineup for Thursday's early game against the Reds, working as the designated hitter while Austin Barnes takes over at catcher.